Michaël Lessard

Michaël Lessard is a Teaching Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Sherbrooke, where he has been appointed since 2023. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Civil Law and Bachelor of Laws from McGill University, a Master of Laws in Legal Theory from New York University, and ongoing doctoral studies (S.J.D.) at the University of Toronto. He is a member of the Québec Bar since 2016.

His research critically examines how private law addresses vulnerable populations, with current focus areas including:

• Animal law and sentience recognition
• Family law dynamics (violence, multi-parenting)
• Sexual violence jurisprudence
• Medical assistance in dying frameworks
• Theoretical foundations of private law
• Inclusive legal language and feminist jurisprudence

Professor Lessard actively supervises graduate students researching critical approaches to private law, family law, and animal law. His research has secured significant funding, including an $80,000 grant from the Chambre des notaires du Québec for a treatise on Québec family law and multiple projects on animal law reform. He leads the 'Atelier de réflexion sur les corps, les identités et l’être' research group and is affiliated with six academic centers including the Groupe de recherche sur les humanités juridiques and Observatoire québécois de droit animalier.